Package having fiber-containing sheath and apparatus and method for packaging

ABSTRACT

The package of the present invention comprises a sheath formed from a folded, relatively rigid strip having structure for receiving and releasably holding the ends of the fiber to be packaged. In a preferred embodiment, the fiber is between the two folded over parts of the strip with the ends of the fiber anchored in place in a pair of slits. The sheath is in a pouch formed by a pair of foil members on opposite sides of the sheath. When ready for use, the package is opened by peeling the foil members apart, thereby exposing the sheath and permitting access to the fiber carried by the sheath. An improved apparatus and method are provided to form the package. In the first instance, the sheath is prepared by first folding a strip of relatively rigid material, such as siliconized polyester, then moving the folded strip along a path of travel and feeding the fiber into the region between the parts of the strip as the strip moves. At a certain location along the path of the strip, the fiber is forced into each slit of the strip and the fiber becomes releasably attached to the strip. At another location, the strip is cut; thus, in this way, a plurality of sheaths with fiber lengths between the sides of the sheaths are formed and are immediately moved to a location where the foil members are applied to the opposite sides of the sheaths.

This invention relates to in the packaging of elongated flexible membersand, more particularly, to a package containing a flexible fiber orstrand and to an apparatus and method for packaging the fiber.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has been found that a medicinal preparation can be applied in aperiodontal sense to the teeth and gums by the use of an elongated,flexible, stretchable fiber which incorporates a medicinal preparation.The fiber is used by wrapping it around the base of a tooth near the gumline to apply the medicinal preparation. Such fibers are disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 4,144,317 and 4,175,326, and these patents areincorporated herein by reference.

While such fibers are highly satisfactory media for applying themedicinal preparation as described above, a problem arises in thehandling of the fiber before use particularly if it is to be provided asan individual unit dosage rather than bulk packaged on a spool, forexample. The fiber is difficult to package because of its adhesivequalities, thermo-sensitivity and handling requirements. Because ofthese problems, a need exists for a package for a fiber of the typedescribed as well as apparatus and method for quickly and economicallyforming the package. The present invention satifies this need byproviding a novel package which affords adequate protection for thefiber while providing easy access to the fiber when it is ready for use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The package of the present invention comprises a sheath formed from afolded, relatively rigid strip having spaced means for receiving andreleasably holding the ends of the fiber to be packaged. In a preferredembodiment, the fiber is between the two folded over parts of the stripwith the ends of the fiber anchored in place in a pair of slits. Thesheath is in a pouch formed by a pair of foil members on opposite sidesof the sheath, the foil members being heat sealed or otherwise securedtogether to form a sealed region in which the sheath is located. Whenready for use, the package is opened by peeling or tearing open the foilmembers away from each other, thereby exposing the sheath and permittingaccess to the sheath and the fiber carried thereby.

An improved apparatus and method are provided to form the package. Inthe first instance, the sheath is prepared by first folding the strip ofrelatively rigid material, such as siliconized polyester, then movingthe folded strip along a path of travel and coupling the fiber to thestrip, such as by feeding the fiber into the region between the parts ofthe strip as the strip moves. At a certain location along the path oftravel of the strip, the fiber is forced into each slit of the strip andthe fiber becomes releasably attached to the strip itself between thefolded over parts of the strip.

At another location along the path of travel of the strip, the strip iscut; thus, in this way, a plurality of sheaths with fiber lengthsbetween the sides of the sheaths are formed and are immediately moved toa location where the foil members are applied to the opposite sides ofthe sheaths. The practice of the method of the present inventionprovides a high production rate yet the fiber in each package isadequately protected from contamination and is immediately ready for usewhen the package is opened, all of which can be achieved withoutdiminishing the medicincal benefits provided by the medicinal substanceimpregnated in th fiber.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a package fora flexible fiber which is generally difficult to package because of itsflexibility, size and other qualities wherein the fiber is contained ina sheath formed from a foldable, relatively rigid strip having means atthe ends thereof for releasably coupling itself to the ends of the fiberwith the sheath being contained in a pouch which can be heat-sealed andopened when the fiber is ready for use, whereby the fiber is adequatelyprotected against contamination yet the fiber can be quickly and easilymade ready for use by exposing the sheath and separating the fiber fromthe sheath.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedapparatus and method for forming a package of the type described whereinthe package can be made quickly and easily and inexpensively yet theproduction rate of making the package can be relatively highnotwithstanding the need to accurately position the fiber in arelatively narrow sheath and to secure the ends of the fiber to thesheath while the sheath and fiber are being moved together along apredetermined path at a given rate.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the followingspecification progresses, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings for an illustration of the invention.

In the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly schematic, of the packagingapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a package containing a sheath formed bythe apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line 6--6 ofFIG. 2;

FIGS. 7 and 7A are plan and end views, respectively, of the polyesterstrip which is used to form the sheath of the package of FIG. 1A;

FIGS. 8 and 8A are views similar to FIGS. 7 and 7A but showing the stripfolded into halves;

FIGS. 9 and 9A are views similar to FIGS. 8 and 8A but showing a fiberplaced on one of the halves of the strip with spaced parts of the fiberbeing in spaced slits in the strip;

FIGS. 10 and 10A are views similar to FIGS. 9 and 9A, respectively, butshowing the strip completely folded over to encase the fiber therewithinand to form the sheath; and

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but showing the strip severed intoa predetermined length and showing one end of the fiber held in anadjacent slit of the strip;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a control means for the apparatus of FIG.1.

The packaging apparatus of the present invention is broadly denoted bythe numeral 10 and is illustrated in FIGS. 1-6. Machine 10 is adapted,when an operation, to form a fiber-containing sheath 18 which is part ofa package 12 (FIG. 1A) defined by a pair of outer foil strips 14 and 16between which is sandwiched the sheath 18 containing an elongated,flexible fiber or strand 20. For purposes of illustration, the fiber isformed from a stretchable, polymeric material and is impregnated with amedicinal component, such as a periodontal therapeutic substance. Aprimary function of the apparatus 10 is to form sheath 18 from a plasticstrip and to place fiber 20 within the sheath, following which thefiber-containing sheath is placed between the two foil members 14 and 16and the foil members are heat sealed or otherwise fastened at theirouter peripheries to enclose the sheath and fiber within the foilmembers to form package 12. The package can then be stored along withother such packages until ready for use. To open the package, the foilmembers 14 and 16 are separated from each other (as as shown in FIG. 1A)by peeling one away from the other so as to gain access to sheath 18containing fiber 20. The fiber can then be removed from the sheath andused for the purpose for which the fiber is designed.

Apparatus 10 includes an elongated support 22 which, for purposes ofillustration, is a box beam as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. Support 22includes a top wall 24 provided with an upper surface 26 as shown inFIG. 4. The support also includes a pair of opposed sides 28 and abottom 30 which is adapted to rest upon a table or other surface.

A reel 32 is rotatably mounted by a shaft 34 on support 22 in anysuitable manner near the upstream end 36 of the support (FIGS. 1 and 2).Reel 42 is adapted to contain a roll of a suitable sheath-formingmaterial, such as siliconized polyester, which typically is relativelyrigid and transparent and, for purposes of illustration, is about 1.5inches in width. The strip 38 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 7 and 7Aand the strip has shaded segments 39 at equally spaced locations on thestrip. The segments are integral with the strip and can be appliedthereto in any suitable manner, such as by a photographic or printingprocess. Each of the segments has a detectable characteristic, such asless light transmissivity or a differing magnetic or physicalcharacteristic than the remainder of the strip. Thus, the segments canserve as index marks to interrupt a light beam of a photoelectric,magnetic or other device as hereinafter described.

Each segment is provided with a curved slit 40 which is preferablyprecut in the strip 38 before the strip is placed on reel 32. Each slit40 is closer to one side edge of the strip than to the other side. Also,each slit is adapted to releasably receive and anchor a particular endof a length of fiber 20 when an adjacent length of strip 38 has been cutand forms the sheath 18 (FIG. 12) of a package 12. Other means, such asan adhesive or a heat tack, can be used to anchor the fiber to thesheath 18.

Strip 38 is movable off reel 32 in the direction of arrow 42 (FIGS. 1and 2) and, as it moves, the strip passes over a folding device 44 whichfolds the strip into two parts, preferably into halves, the fold beingshown in FIGS. 8 and 8A. To assist in obtaining a uniform fold, strip 38is preferably provided with a longitudinally extending partialperforation 41 or score line along the fold. It has been found that asewing machine hemmer is suitable for the purpose in folding strip 38.The folding causes a crease in the strip along the perforation 41, andthis crease becomes essentially a permanent set by moving the foldedstrip beneath a bearing roller 46 rotatably mounted by a shaft 48 onspaced bearings 50 on support 22 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Apparatus 10 further includes a guide 52 which retains and guides theupper half of strip 38 while it retains the lower half near the uppersurface 26 of support 22. FIG. 9A shows the way in which one half ofstrip 38 is substantially vertical and held in that position by guide52.

A detecting device 54, such as a photoelectric device, is carried bysupport 22 downstream from the upstream end of guide 52. Device 54includes a light source 56 and a photodetector 58 aligned with lightsource 56 for receiving a light beam 60 from light source 56, the lightsource being below surface 26 and detector 58 being above the surface,there being an opening 62 in top wall 24 of support 22 for allowing thelight beam 60 to pass normally upwardly to detector 58. Breaking of thelight beam by a segment 39 of strip 38 causes a signal to be generatedby control means 124 (FIG. 12) and such signal is directed to severaldrive motors as hereinafter described which synchronize the movements ofstrip 38 and fiber 20 as they move simultaneously longitudinally of thesupport 22.

Guide 52 includes a pair of side-by-side rails 56 and 58 which arespaced apart to present a space 60 through which one half of strip 38passes while the other strip is parallel to the upper surface 26 ofsupport 22 as shown in FIG. 3.

An upright panel 62 is rigidly secured to support 22 and extendsupwardly therefrom near one side 28 thereof as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and4. Panel 62 has a pair of spaced rollers 64 and 66 mounted thereon forrotation about respective horizontal axes. The rollers extend outwardlyfrom the panel 62 above the path of travel of strip 38. These rollersare adapted to support and to rotate a reel 68 of fiber 20 which paysoff reel 68 and over a third roller 69, past an idler 70 and thendownwardly and partially about a roller 72 on the shaft 74 of a steppermotor 76 rigidly secured to and extending laterally from one side ofsupport 22 as shown in FIG. 2.

A second stepper motor 78 is carried by panel 62 in any suitable manner,such as at a location shown in FIG. 3. Moto 78 is coupled with roller 66for rotating the same, whereby reel 68 can be driven in a clockwisesense when viewing FIG. 1. Roller 69 is coupled with motor 78 by anendless, flexible band (not shown) to rotate at a tangential velocitygreater than that of reel 68. This assures that there will be tension onfiber 20 as it comes off reel 68.

Fiber 20 extends downwardly and about roller 72 and is urged by theroller in a downstream direction as indicated by arrow 79 (FIG. 2).

A guide member 80 is mounted on upper surface 26 in any suitable manner,the guide member having an inverted J-shaped configuration as shown inFIG. 4. The guide member 80 serves to channel one half of strip 38vertically as the strip moves longitudinally of the support and as theother half of the strip is adjacent to and is generally parallel withthe upper surface 26 of support 22 (FIG. 4).

A fluid piston and cylinder assembly 82 is coupled by a bracket 84 onpanel 62 as shown in FIG. 4. Assembly 82 has a piston rod 86 having atool 88 on the lower end thereof, the tool having a concave space 90(FIG. 4) which presents a generally inverted U-shaped configuration, thepurpose of which is to trap fiber 20 within the concave space 90 as tool88 moves downwardly to force the fiber into a slit 40 (FIG. 7) alignedwith the tool as hereinafter described. The tool could have any one ofseveral other configurations, such as a flat bottom surface.

When the tool pushes the fiber 20 into an adjacent slit 40, the fiberbecomes hooked or releasably held in the slit as shown in FIG. 9,whereupon the fiber is connected at various locations along the strip38, specifically at locations adjacent to segments 39. Upon being cut ateach of these segments, the strip 38 is severed into individual lengths,such as 12 to 15 inch lengths, which define sheaths 18 of the type shownin FIG. 11 .

A pair of guides engageable with strip 38 are provided downstream oftool 88 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. The purpose of these guides is tosubstantially remove any wrinkles in the strip. These guides include afirst guide 92 which has a bevelled, circular lower surface 94 (FIG. 5)for engaging the backside of the vertical half of strip 38 to bend itover and to cause it to meet the other half of the strip which is movedalong an inclined surface 96 of a second guide 98 on the opposite sideof the path of the strip as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. Guide 98 is in theform of a plate which is secured in any suitable manner to support 22and extends upwardly from upper surface 26.

A pair of spaced, parallel rails 100 and 102 are located downstream ofguides 92 and 98 as shown in FIG. 2. Rails 100 and 102 serve as guidesfor guiding the folded strip 38, with its halves juxtaposed, to alocation beneath a pair of rollers 104 mounted on a shaft 106 which isbiased to the left when viewing FIG. 2 by a coil pring 108, one end ofthe spring being coupled to the shaft 106 and the opposite end of thespring being coupled to a pin 110 projecting laterally from support 22.A stepper motor 112 carried by support 22 has a drive shaft 114 (FIG. 6)coupled to a pressure roller 116 beneath rollers 104, and roller 116drives the folded-over strip 38 with the fiber 20 therebetween in adownstream direction.

A strip cutting device 120 is secured by a bracket 122 on support 22downstream of roller 104, and the cutting device 120 has a shaft 124coupled to a piston and cylinder assembly 126, the lower end of theshaft forming a cutting blade and being movable downwardly and intocutting relationship with strip 38 therebeneath. The cutting of thestrip occurs after movement of strip 38 has been stopped, i.e., bystopping the stepper motor 112 and thereby drive roller 116 (FIG. 6)which drives the strip 38 in the downstream direction. The cuttingaction occurs when a segment 39 is directly beneath the cutting blade124 and the cutting blade cuts segment 39 widthwise in half.Simultaneously, the cutting blade cuts fiber 20 so that the end of thecut strip appears as shown to the left of FIG. 11.

Cutting of the next segment 39 in half along with fiber 20 forms sheath18 with a single length of fiber 20 in the sheath and with the end ofthe fiber in respective end slots 40 of the sheath (FIG. 11).

The three stepper motors 76, 78 and 112 are synchronized in that theyare parts of a control means 124 (FIG. 12) responsive to photoelectricdevice 54 so that, each time a segment 39 passes device 54, the threestepper motors are deactivated, tool assembly 82 and cutter assembly 126are actuated, tool 88 poking or forcing fiber 20 into the slot 40 of theadjacent segment 39 while cutter blade 124 severs the strip and fiber 20so as to cut the adjacent segment 39 into two parts. Then, control means124 will be further actuated after a predetermined time delay to actuatethe three stepper motors again until the next segment 39 comes intoposition aligned with the photoelectric device 54.

In the operation of apparatus 10, strip 32 will be on reel 32 on shaft34, and the strip will be threaded through the apparatus until the endof the strip is downstream of rollers 104 and drive motor 112. The strip38 will preferably have been previously printed or otherwise processedto form the segments 39. Moreover, the strip will have been precut ateach segment 39 to form a slit 40 at each segment 39, each slit beingcloser to one side edge of strip 30 than to the other side edge as shownin FIG. 7 and pre-perforated with partial perforation 41. Alternatively,the printing, cutting and perforating steps could be performed atstations intermediate reel 32 and the stations on the apparatus forwhich they are required.

By actuating control means 124, strip 38 is fed off reel 32 anddownstream of the support 22 until a segment 39 is aligned with thelight beam of photoelectric device 54. When this occurs, the signalgenerated from photoelectric device 54 is directed to control means 124deactivates stepper motors 72, 78 and 112, whereupon assembly 82 isenergized to force tool 88 downwardly to force fiber 20 into the alignedslit 40 directly therebeneath. Simultaneously, cutter blade 120 will beenergized to cause the cutting blade to sever the strip at a segment 39,cutting both the strip 38 and fiber 20 which is trapped in thecorresponding slit 40 beneath the blade. Then, motors 72, 76 and 112 arethen again energized by circuit means 124 after a short time delay, andthe strip is moved again downstream until the light beam of device 54 isinterrupted once again by the next segment 39. Movement of the tool 88and cutter blade again occurs. During the movement of strip 38, fiber 20is being payed out from reel 60 and downwardly to and then along thestrip.

Each time the cutting blade severs strip 38, a sheath 18 is formed witha length of fiber 20 between the two halves of the sheath as shown inFigs. 1A and 11. After the sheath containing a fiber length 20 is formedby the cutting action of the cutting blade, the sheath and its fiberlength are moved through another machine near the downstream end ofsupport 22. This machine supplies the foil members 14 and 16 with thesheath sandwiched between the foil members as shown in FIG. 12. Theouter peripheries of foil members 14 and 16 are heat sealed about arectangular zone as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 12, whereby package 12is completed and is ready for shipment, storage or end use.

We claim:
 1. Apparatus for use in forming a package comprised of a pairof outer foil members and a fibercontaining sheath between the foilmembers with said sheath being formed from a foldable strip havingspaced index marks thereon and a slit adjacent to each index mark,respectively, said apparatus comprising:an elongated support; means onthe support for providing a rigid strip folded along its length into twoparts; means on the support for guiding the folded strip for movementalong a path adjacent to and longitudinally of the support; means on thesupport for incrementally moving the strip along said path; means on thesupport adjacent to at least a portion of said path for holding theparts of the strip separated from each other; means on the support forfeeding a flexible fiber into the space between the parts of the stripas the strip is moved along said path and as the parts of the strip areseparated from each other; means on the support for forcing a portion ofthe fiber into each slit of the strip; means on the support for cuttingthe strip and the fiber at each of the index marks thereon, wherebysuccessive cuts of the strip cause a plurality of fiber-containingsheaths to be formed.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein isincluded means adjacent to the support for enclosing each sheath,respectively, between a pair of foil members.
 3. Apparatus as set forthin claim 1, wherein said strip providing means includes a reel rotatablymounted on the support near one end thereof, said reel adapted to mountthe strip thereon in roll form and with the strip being unfolded. 4.Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said strip providing meansfurther includes a device for folding the strip into said parts as thestrip moves off said reel.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid strip providing means is adjacent to one end of the support, saidstrip moving means being adjacent to the opposite end of the support. 6.Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for holding theparts of the strip separated from each other includes a guide on thesupport adjacent to said path of travel of the strip.
 7. Apparatus asset forth in claim 4, wherein said assembly includes a first guidemember for orienting one part of the strip in a generally verticalposition and the other part of the strip in a generally horizontalposition.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein is includedmeans responsive to the position of an index mark on the strip todeactuate said moving means and thereby interrupt the movement of thestrip along said path
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidforcing means and said cutting means are actuated when the movement ofthe strip has been interrupted
 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1,wherein is included control means responsive to the interruption of themovement of the strip for actuating said forcing means and said cuttingmeans.
 11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said controlmeans is operable to cause said drive means to be actuated to move thestrip after a time delay following the interruption of the movement ofthe strip along the path.
 12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid forcing means includes a tool having means for mounting the toolfor up and down movement relative to the support, and means coupled withthe tool for moving the same up and down relative to the support. 13.Apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein the tool has a lower endprovided with an inverted U-shaped configuration, whereby the tool canstraddle the fiber and force it into the slit when the slit is alignedwith the tool
 14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidfeeding means includes a reel adapted to mount the fiber thereon in aform of a roll, and means coupled with the reel for rotating the same toallow the fiber on the reel to be moved off the reel and into a positionextending along the path of said strip.
 15. Apparatus as set forth inclaim 14, wherein the reel is above said path of the strip. 16.Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein is included a guide rolleradjacent to the path of travel of the fiber off the reel, said rollerbeing rotatable at a tangential velocity greater than that of the reel.17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein is included guide meansfor moving the parts of the strip together into juxtaposition with eachother after the fiber has been placed in the space between the parts.18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein said cutting means isdownstream of guide means.
 19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1,wherein said cutting means includes a shaft having a cutter blade on thelower end thereof, and means for moving the shaft downwardly relative tosaid support.
 20. A method for use in forming a package having a pair ofouter foil members and a fiber-containing sheath between the foilmembers, said method comprising:providing a rigid strip folded along itslength into two parts; moving the strip along a predetermined path;holding the two parts of the strip separated from each other; feeding aflexible fiber into a position between the parts of the strip;releasably securing the fiber to the strip at spaced locations therein,and; cutting the strip and the fiber at each of said locations on thestrip, whereby successive cuts of the strip form a plurality offiber-containing sheaths having a first side joined by a fold along itslength to a second side opposite said first side which is freelymoveable.
 21. A method as set forth in claim 20, wherein the strip ismoved incrementally along said path, said step of holding the partsseparated occurring when the strip is moving along said path.
 22. Amethod as set forth in claim 21, wherein said feeding step occurs as thestrip moves along said path.
 23. A method as set forth in claim 21,wherein said securing step occurs when the strip has been stopped alongthe said path
 24. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein the cuttingstep occurs when the strip has been stopped along said path.
 25. Amethod as set forth in claim 20, wherein is included the step ofenclosing each sheath in a pouch after the sheath has been formed.
 26. Amethod as set forth in claim 25, wherein said enclosing step includesmoving a pair of foil members on opposite sides of each sheath,respectively, and heat sealing the outer peripheral margins of the foilmembers together.
 27. A method as set forth in claim 20, wherein thestep of providing said strip includes presenting the strip in the formof a roll, and unrolling the strip from the roll.
 28. A method as setforth in claim 27, wherein is included the step of folding the strip asit comes off the roll.
 29. A method as set forth in claim 20, whereinthe strip moving step includes shifting the strip with one part in agenerally vertical position and the other part in a generally horizontalposition.
 30. A method as set forth in claim 29, wherein said feedingstep occurs when the parts of the strip are in said positions.
 31. Amethod as set forth in claim 20, wherein the strip has a plurality ofequally spaced index marks thereon, said movement of the strip beinginterrupted as the function of the positions of the index marks relativeto a predetermined reference along said path.
 32. A method as set forthin claim 20, wherein the fiber securing step includes penetrating thestrip with the fiber, and frictionally holding the fiber in the strip.33. A method as set forth in claim 32, wherein the strip has a slittherein at each of said locations, respectively, said penetrating stepincludes forcing the fiber into each slit.
 34. A method as set forth inclaim 20, wherein the step of feeding the fiber includes unreeling thefiber from a station above the path of travel of the strip.
 35. A methodas set forth in claim 20, wherein the strip is cut when the two parts ofthe strip are juxtaposed and the fiber is held between the parts of thestrip.